The Influence of Creep on the Failure of Wood-Framed Walls in Fire

Abstract

Elastic models for wood-framed walls in fire have been developed following the advent of performance-based regulations. The main problems include the modeling of walls with high load ratios and large differences between elastic moduli obtained by direct measurement and by calibration of models to full scale wall tests. Described in this paper are models for creep of wood which have been incorporated into an elastic wall frame model to produce creep models for walls. These models are used to explain anomalies and overcome these problems. Limitations to elastic models and evidence for mechano-sorptive creep caused by changes in moisture are given.